The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Board of Education voted to remove the “Life of Washington” mural from view by covering it without destroying it, amending its June 25 vote to paint over the mural unless doing so would result in undue delay.
“Life of Washington” mural could be preserved by covering it to make way for new, positive artwork
The San Francisco Unified School District’s (SFUSD) Board of Education’s decision to cover or destroy 13 murals in the “Life of Washington” series at the first president’s namesake high school has inspired those who support saving the murals to hire an attorney and to work on bringing the issue to the voters.
The latest round in the fight over the George Washington High School murals took place on July 9, when a small group that want them painted over crashed a meeting of mural supporters and chaos ensued.
The writing is on the wall for the controversial murals on the life of President George Washington at his namesake high school now that the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has voted to cover them over.
I propose that an appropriate sum of money be authorized to paint a mural with the opposing viewpoint.
As an organization dedicated to promoting free speech, including freedom of
artistic expression, we were concerned to learn that the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is considering removing thirteen 1930s Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals from George Washington High School.
Regarding the dispute concerning Washington High’s sculpture and murals of Native Americans shown in a demeaning way and put down by powerful white men, I think it is important to take these artworks down.
The Richmond Review newspaper helped break the story about the controversial murals at George Washington High School was was later covered by regional and national news.
Opponents square off against mural defenders at a tour of George Washington High School artwork on Saturday, May 4, 2019
More than 80 years after artist Victor Arnautoff painted them, the murals now face destruction and are the focus of an intense debate about who gets to control the memory of the past and what that legacy will be in the future.
Being native, I feel everyone is trying to hide everything bad that their forefathers have done.
They should just own it, not hide it.
“… we believe that community discussion around the ‘Life of Washington’ murals is not only timely, but well overdue.”
Two Richmond District schools were originally proposed to be considered for “landmark” status, but one is getting straight-armed by the San Francisco Unified School District’s (SFUSD) Board of Education.
One of the largest and most significant WPA murals in San Francisco faces destruction within the next few months.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 